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Satellite navigation specialist Garmin has teamed up with Bavaria Yachtbau to create a new docking system to be fitted onboard the new Bavaria Vision 46.

The system will be available on additional models soon.

Designed for shorthanded sailing, the Vision 46 Dock Control consists of two thrusters, a joystick and two actuators. The joystick is used to manoeuvre the boat in any direction when mooring, while the Garmin plotter allows the user to view thruster status, RPM and gear status.

“We developed the functionalities by analysing the 120 customers on our test boat,” says Daniel Kohl, sailboat product manager at Bavaria. “The integration of Garmin into the system allows us to display safety relevant information like battery status of the thrusters, RPM, and locked wheel on the plotter, which is absolutely unique.”

Nigel Craine, European marine OEM sales manager for Garmin, says: “We have been enjoying an exclusive partnership with Bavaria since January 2011. This development gives another reason for customers to choose a premium quality boat with world leading electronics.”

Garmin Ltd and its subsidiaries have been making navigation, communication and information devices and applications since 1989 – most of which are enabled by GPS technology.

Bavaria is a major German yacht-builder with one of the largest serial boat production facilities in all of Europe. The company has built more than 30,000 sail and motor yachts since 1978.